The crisis in Venezuela continues to heat up
The last days and hours have not been characterized by protests and demonstrations of violence in the streets, but by a tightening of the diplomatic siege against Nicolás Maduro. Late Thursday, Foggy Bottom issued a statement recognizing Edmundo González, the opposition candidate, as the winner of the July 28 elections. It is a very serious step for the United States, from which it is complicated to return without losing a critical dose of credibility. So, Washington is once again linking its fate with an opposition that this time seems to have some evidence—the disputed electoral records shared here—, but that in other times has left the White House "burned".
Technically, the State Department stopped short of recognizing Gonzalez as President-elect. The timing of the decision was interesting, although it may have been a coincidence. First, Nicolás Maduro stated in X his willingness to dialogue based on respect, sharing a draft of a deal that was allegedly signed by his negotiating team and Blinken's in Qatar (the shared document does not appear signed by the US side, and also has a blank date). Then, minutes later, Blinken was recognizing Gonzalez as the winner of the electoral race.
Maduro seeks respectful dialogue
Siempre he dialogado, si el gobierno de los EE. UU. está dispuesto a respetar la soberanía y dejar de amenazar a #Venezuela podemos retomar el #Diálogo pero con base en un punto único: "Cumplimiento de Qatar". Esta es el acta de aquella negociación. pic.twitter.com/VatCK7fD8b
— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) August 1, 2024
Foggy Bottom answers somehow two hours later
Electoral data overwhelmingly demonstrate the will of the Venezuelan people: democratic opposition candidate @EdmundoGU won the most votes in Sunday’s election. Venezuelans have voted, and their votes must count.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) August 2, 2024
Everything that Chavismo should have avoided is happening. Diplomatic isolation entrenches, which may later translate into (more) economic isolation as well. During the day, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, and Costa Rica followed the Biden administration in recognizing Gonzalez as the winner, which means a greater tidal wave in the already sour and rough relations of Venezuela's government with a representative number of nations, but particularly with those governed by the right-wing in the region. Peru was the first one to endorse the alleged triumph of the opposition, and continues actively pointing its finger at the Miraflores Palace.
Yesterday, the governments of Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, of great diplomatic weight here, insisted on demanding Venezuelan electoral authority to support with hard data the victory granted to Nicolás Maduro. In this sense, Gustavo Petro is trying to include Gabriel Boric, very tough on Bolivarian socialism, in the diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the oil-producing country. The National Electoral Council issued this Friday a second bulletin ratifying its decision blessing Maduro as the President-elect. So, tomorrow will be a tense day with mobilizations called by both sides of the aisle throughout the nation. The political organization led by María Corina Machado—who said she has gone underground out of fear—denounced the vandalization of its central offices in the capital, while other reports of repression against electoral agents of the opposition are added.
SourceGonzalez did not attend today a summons of the electoral chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, which was activated by Maduro to settle the electoral controversy. The judicial narrative of the strongest sector of the opposition does not conceive the judicial authority as competent to "certify" the results, while the rest of the candidates that were seeking the Presidency, branded as puppets of Chavismo, advocated for more transparency in the Friday's hearing. The Communist Party of Venezuela, illogically at odds with the PSUV of Maduro and Diosdado Cabello, is one of the organizations pushing for the publication of all critical information to validate the process. The National Electoral Council is physically and digitally closed since Monday.
And this is all for our report today. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work here. Have a nice day.
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